Concerned residents contacted the RSPCA after spotting the troubled bird leading to a chase that lasted four hours.

Nearby resident Stan Webb called in the RSPCA North-Tees branch.

"The pond is right outside our house so we feed the ducks as much as we can," he explains.

"Someone said that one of the ducks was in distress and had called out the RSPCA but they didn't manage to catch it.

"When we saw the bird was still tangled in the plastic we called again."

Chris Baker and two fellow volunteers immediately headed to the duck's rescue.

"Three of them turned up with no waterproofs or anything - they were just wearing jeans," says Stan.

Without hesitation the ladies waded into the water in pursuit of the stricken duck.

"It meant wading in up to our shoulders," says Chris. "It was a nightmare to catch."

"One of our volunteers even lost her shoe."

Chris explains the trio enlisted the help of Stan and another man walking his dog.

"We got a washing line and spanned the lake with a man on each side, if the ducks headed in that direction they slapped the water with the line so we could keep them enclosed."

Eventually their quick thinking paid off and the duck was captured and the plastic removed.

"One of our volunteers is a vet's nurse so she had a look. It's mouth was cut but not badly enough to need treatment," says Chris.

"As soon as we put the duck down it ran straight for the food."

Stan says it was fantastic to see the bird free and once again able to feed. For him and his wife he says the ducks and local wild birds are like pets.

Chris says it was a relief to free the bird but she says people need to think about where they are discarding their rubbish.

"Those plastic things are horrible and can be lethal to birds."

The Sedgefield duck was among the lucky ones.

Care tips for cold weather walks

We may be heading for spring but everyone knows the change of season offers no guarantees of fine weather.

This week served as a reminder of how temperatures can suddenly plummet.

When the cold spell hits it is important to remember our canine friends feel the cold too. So to help keep your dog happy through the cold spells Dog's Trust offer the following tips:

* Keep walks short in the extreme cold.

* When outside, put coats on small breeds, short and smooth haired dogs, lean greyhound types, the elderly and puppies. Some elderly dogs and young puppies especially may also need extra blankets at bedtime or a safe heat pad.

* When you get home, dry the dog well if he gets wet.

* If your dog has been walking in the snow, he could have snow caked between his pads. Clean this away to make sure he doesn't get frostbite.

* Always keep dogs on a lead near frozen water (ponds, lakes, etc?).

* If he gets hypothermia (for example, from falling in icy water or from prolonged exposure to extreme cold), wrap the dog in a blanket or coat and take him into the warm. If the dog is wet then dry vigorously with a towel. Then contact your vet and get your dog there as soon as possible. Apply hot water bottles wrapped in towels to the dog's armpits and chest, then wrap the dog in a dry blanket again. Do not use direct heat on the dog as it may cause burns.

* Symptoms of hypothermia include violent shivering followed by listlessness, a low temperature, weak pulse, lethargy and coma.